Three people dead over the weekend due to multiple avalanches

COLORADO (KRDO) -- The Colorado Avalanche Info Center is urging for extra care in the backcountry after three people have been killed since Friday. The deaths are being linked to unusually dangerous avalanche conditions.

Since Friday, the numbers are pretty alarming. More than 130 avalanches have been recorded with nearly 50 of them being triggered by people.

Ethan Greene, Director of Colorado Avalanche Information said, “We have had two tragic accidents, three people killed in those accidents. We’ve had a really weak snowpack and really sensitive avalanche conditions over the last 10 days or so.”

Sadly, this is nothing new. In fact, more people die in avalanches in Colorado than any other state, and this year conditions are especially dangerous. So far, this is the weakest snowpack the Avalanche Center has seen since 2012.

Greene said “In this particular year the snowpack is exceptionally weak. We see this maybe one year out of every ten. And that’s really what’s leading to these avalanches being so easy to trigger.”

But even though people die every year due to avalanches the amount so far has been unusually high says Greene. “We see an average of six people die each year because of avalanches. So we are about a third of the way through the avalanche season and we are about halfway through the average number of deaths. Doesn’t bode well for the rest of the season.”

It’s important that you have all the necessary gear when out in the back country, for example a shovel, probe and beacon. However, the Avalanche Center says these current conditions are requiring additional caution.

“Your best weapon against these avalanches is careful trip planning so checking the avalanche forecast before you go out, go to colorado.gov/avalanche make sure you know what kind of conditions we are seeing out there,” said Greene.

And as the season continues avalanche danger will only get worse as the state continues to get more snow.